The Polar Express Train Ride returns to Durango, Colorado, for the 2026 to 2027 holiday season, running November 20, 2026 through January 2, 2027, aboard the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Families board a heated vintage steam train at the Durango Depot, ride toward a storybook North Pole, and watch the classic Chris Van Allsburg tale unfold with cookies, hot cocoa, and a visit from Santa himself. This Colorado winter trip becomes a lasting holiday tradition, and it’s one of the main reasons families choose Durango for a Christmas getaway.
This guide covers what to expect onboard the train, another scenic winter ride worth adding to the trip, and where to stay after a night at the North Pole.
What Happens Aboard the Durango Polar Express
Once the whistle blows, the train pulls out of the Durango Depot and heads north along tracks the railroad has used since 1882. Onboard chefs pour hot cocoa and hand out a cookie to every passenger while a conductor reads the Polar Express story aloud, timed so the big reveal, the train’s arrival at the North Pole, lines up with the book’s final pages.
At the North Pole, the train stops beneath a wash of lights so guests can spot Santa and his elves from the comfort of a heated coach. Santa then boards for the return trip and hands a silver sleigh bell to every child aboard, the same keepsake the book describes as a sound that only those who believe can hear. Round-trip travel time runs about 65 minutes, though the railroad recommends setting aside closer to two hours for the full evening once the preboarding show at the depot is factored in.
Because it’s built as a children’s holiday event, the ride skips alcohol entirely and asks guests to dress warm and comfortable. Pajamas fit the spirit of the story, and a layered outfit works best since coaches stay heated but the platform does not.
2026 to 2027 Polar Express Season Dates and What to Know Before You Book
The 2026 to 2027 season runs November 20, 2026 through January 2, 2027, with multiple nightly departures on select dates throughout the run. The ride sells out quickly, especially around Thanksgiving weekend and the two weeks before Christmas, so booking a date and class of service as soon as travel plans firm up gives a family the best shot at their preferred seating.
A few planning notes worth knowing before departure day:
- Arrive at the Durango Depot about 30 minutes before departure to catch the preboarding show.
- Downtown parking is available near the depot for a small fee, with additional public parking and city transit nearby.
- A wheelchair-accessible coach with a hydraulic lift and an ADA restroom is on every departure.
- Reservations become nonrefundable within 60 days of the scheduled trip, though guests can typically reschedule for a modest per-ticket fee.
Choosing a Class of Service for Your Polar Express Excursion
Every departure offers three ways to ride, and each includes a cookie, hot cocoa, and a bell for each child.
Standard Class seats guests in forward-facing padded seats, two to a bench, in a vintage coach.
Deluxe Class upgrades to roomier overstuffed seating, face-to-face or forward-facing, and serves cocoa in a souvenir mug, with one tote bag per reservation.
First Class adds table-and-chair seating inside a coach dressed in its own holiday theme, along with the same take-home mug and tote bag.
All three classes ride in heated coaches with onboard restrooms, so the choice mostly comes down to seating style and how much of the keepsake experience a family wants to bring home.
Polar Express 2026 to 2027 Fares (per person, value dates to peak dates):
Standard Class: Adults $42 to $67, children $32 to $57
Deluxe Class: Adults $53 to $84, children $42 to $73
First Class: All ages (2 and up) $73 to $100
Fares climb closer to the holidays and at weekends, so booking early on a value date is the easiest way to keep the trip budget-friendly.
Another Way to See Winter in Durango: The Cascade Canyon Winter Train
Guests who want more time on the rails, without the holiday theming, can add the Cascade Canyon Winter Train to their trip. This excursion runs on select dates from November 20 through the end of April and covers a longer 26-mile route each way, for a five-and-a-quarter-hour round trip up the Animas River gorge into the San Juan National Forest.
The train departs the Durango Depot at 9:15 a.m. and stops at Cascade Canyon for a 60-minute layover, long enough for a fireside lunch, a few photos, or a short walk along the river before the return trip. A concession car sells hot drinks, snacks, and cold beverages throughout the ride, and guests can preorder a boxed lunch at checkout. Families staying through the winter often pair a festive evening on the Polar Express with a full daylight adventure through the canyon during a separate visit.
Where to Stay During Polar Express Season
A Polar Express evening in Durango pairs naturally with a stay at Antlers on the Creek, an award-winning bed and breakfast on Lightner Creek just minutes from downtown and the Durango Depot. Guests return from a night with Santa to a quiet suite by the fire and a gourmet breakfast waiting the next morning; a different kind of ending than a highway hotel offers.
The Inn’s five guest rooms work well for both couples building a quiet holiday escape and families traveling together for the season, and several rooms add a fireplace or a soaking tub for the coldest nights of the year.
The Polar Express Family Package is back for the 2026 to 2027 season, and guests can book it directly for either the Wildcat Creek or Canyon Creek Suite. The package requires a 2-night minimum stay, and pricing varies by the selected date and room rate. Book as early as possible once travel dates are set.
Families or groups traveling together also have the option to book the entire property, all five suites, for up to 14 guests, at a flat rate of $4,000 per night with a two-night minimum. Whole-house bookings aren’t available online and require a direct call or email to the Inn.
Guests planning a 2026 to 2027 Polar Express trip should reach out about current seasonal packages and enhancements to confirm dates and pricing for their preferred suite. Rooms near the holidays go quickly, right alongside the train tickets. Reserve your stay now.
A Polar Express evening is just the start of a great Durango winter trip. For the rest of the season’s best things to do, from skiing to hot springs, will help you decide when to plan a Durango visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Polar Express ride in Durango?
The round-trip train ride takes about 65 minutes, but the railroad recommends setting aside a total of two hours, including the preboarding show and the North Pole stop.
What should we wear?
Pajamas fit the spirit of the story, and a layered outfit works best since the platform stays cold even though every coach is heated. Snow boots are a good idea too, especially on nights with fresh snowfall.
Is alcohol available on the train?
No. The Polar Express is an alcohol-free, family-focused event, and outside alcohol isn’t permitted on board.
Are restrooms and wheelchair access available?
Yes. Coaches include a restroom, and every departure includes a wheelchair-accessible coach with a hydraulic lift and an ADA restroom.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you set a travel date. Certain departure times and classes of service sell out well before the season starts, though same-day seats occasionally open up for guests already in town.
What happens at the North Pole?
The train pulls in beneath a display of lights so guests can watch for Santa and his elves before he boards for the return trip and hands every child a silver bell.
What if plans change after booking?
Guests can reschedule any time before departure for a $7 per-ticket fee, for another date in the same calendar year. Cancellations made at least 60 days out are refunded minus a $14 per-adult and $7 per-child fee, and reservations become nonrefundable within 60 days of departure.
Where should we stay for a Durango Polar Express trip?
Antlers on the Creek sits a short drive from the Durango Depot and offers a quiet, upscale alternative to a standard hotel, with breakfast included and a creekside setting that keeps the holiday feeling going well after the train pulls back into the station. The Inn’s Polar Express Family Package is available for the Wildcat Creek or Canyon Creek Suite with a 2-night minimum stay, and larger groups can book the entire five-suite property for up to 14 guests at $4,000 per night, also with a 2-night minimum, by calling or emailing the Inn directly.
Ready to make the Polar Express part of your family’s holiday tradition?
Book your stay at Antlers on the Creek for the 2026 to 2027 season for a very special Durango Christmas getaway your family will remember forever.